Kosmic Zombie

First Look at ABC's Remake of V

2009-05-20T15:09:00.002-04:00

V has always been a personal favorite of mine. I still have vivid memories of watching the show in the 80s (such a long time it seems) and being totally enthralled. It had action, adventure, lasers, spaceships, and aliens with a taste for human flesh. And best of all, the aliens were only disguised to look like us; false flesh concealed green scales and forked tongues. The series had its share of shocks (the infamous guinea pig swallowing scene comes to mind), but more importantly, it dealt with themes of totalitarian oppression and resistance. The visitors had a distinct Nazi vibe and presence.

But now it's time for a new V, one for the 21st Century. Based on the trailer, the show has similarities to the original. It has the same basic premise and the motherships look much like the 80s versions. However, the campy red suits and sunglasses are gone, replaced with a sleeker, more deceptive look. The trailer provides a hint that the revamped series will deal not with oppression, but rather faith and devotion. The people seem to worship the Visitors as saviors sent to help us from destroying ourselves. No doubt, fanaticism will play into the narrative as well as cults. People will turn to anyone that promises answers and easy solutions to life's difficulties. But life isn't supposed to be easy, and we all know the Visitors are not what they seem.

The new V is scheduled to start in 2010 on ABC as a midseason replacement series. I'm looking forward to see where a new generation of writers and creators will take the property. But it's a safe bet that we'll see some rodent consumption, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Ink - Cult Film in the Making?

2009-02-28T12:07:00.005-05:00

Ink, a new film by Jamin Winans, looks to be an amazing urban fantasy with a story in the vein of Neil Gaiman. Although it's an independent film, it has stunning visuals, a complex storyline, and a hauntingly beautiful score. It just proves that bigger budget doesn't always equal better quality. The scene in Trailer 1 where a character runs up into the air and teleports away looks fantastic.

The story revolves around a war in the dreamworld where good dreams battle nightmares, with a girl's life hanging in the balance. The dream characters, or "storytellers," are quirky and cool. I can already tell that Jacob will be my favorite (He's the one in the trailer with black tape over his eyes). Based on the quality of the trailers, I'd say Ink could easily gain cult film status.

I'm sure most of us will have to wait until the DVD comes out to see it, but the movie opens on March 13th in Denver, CO. So if you're in the area, check it out and support indie filmmakers.

You can also check out the official site for more info on the film.

Midnight Meat Train Could Have Been a Trilogy

2009-02-17T11:18:00.004-05:00

Despite what some fans think about the horror remake trend, it's only hurting us in the long run. Original material is forced to take a backseat.

What could have been if Clive Barker had his way...

(from Famous Monsters of Filmland)-
A bit of a downer in news for Midnight Meat Train fans today. Midnight Meat Train could have been a trilogy says author Clive Barker in an exclusive interview with Shock Till You Drop. He author blames the lack of following in the film on its limited theater release from Lionsgate. He tells the site:

“It frustrates me because we would have had a trilogy out of this. I set to work to develop, in note form from way back, the back story of the city fathers. The other movies were not just taking place in this city but in other parts of America. They were connecting up the story of underground activity which is America-wide. It would have climaxed with a meeting of all the stations, all of the lines. I had this massive plan in my head. The absence of a theatrical release was…not only were we losing the chance to exhibit the picture the way it should have been shown, but also we were killing the chance of getting a real horror trilogy that would be constructed picture by picture.”

There’s still a chance a trilogy could happen. For those who didn’t see it in theaters or loved it so much you just gotta watch it again, Midnight Meat Train in stores on DVD and Blu-ray today!

Watchmen Viral Marketing

2009-01-22T11:09:00.002-05:00

This video just popped up on the 'Net. I love viral marketing; it worked well for Cloverfield as well as The Dark Knight. It just makes me even more excited to see Watchmen. As we get closer to the movie's opening, I'm sure we'll be seeing more cool stuff like this "1970 Edition of NBS Nightly News."

And in case you still haven't caught the latest trailer for the film...

I'm pretty sure the music in the beginning is from Clive Barker's Candyman, and the song is "Take A Bow" by Muse. "Take a Bow" is perfect for it. The song's politically charged lyrics are an excellent fit for the story's setting and underlying messages.

50th Blog Post!

2009-01-20T13:13:00.003-05:00

I just read this on the Fangoria site and had to share. It raises a lot of questions about "movie critics" and their perception of horror films versus the typical moviegoer. Personally, I can't stand critics. They get paid too much to basically bash everything that comes out. I never rely on critics' reviews to determine which movies I watch. If it looks interesting or fun, I'll check it out. Is it so wrong to formulate our own opinions about movies? Watch it and judge for yourself! Horror, in particular, can go so many ways. Yes, there are many movies that are too painful to watch. Some films are as complex as they are disturbing. And some horror flicks are just a blast to watch (like My Bloody Valentine 3D). Horror is more popular now than ever with numerous outlets available to fans: books, magazines, movies, TV, comics, and others. The demand is there, so producers will continue to make films that are good, bad, and in-between. It's up to us to decide where to spend our dollars.

It's True - There Really Is Nothing New In Horror

I recently read something that I believe will resonate with more than a few people, based upon what appears to be the prevailing opinion regarding Hollywood's output during the last decade (or two).

"The movies have been so rank the last couple of years that when I see people lining up to buy tickets I sometimes think that the movies aren’t drawing an audience — they’re inheriting an audience. People just want to go to a movie. They’re stung repeatedly, yet their desire for a good movie — for any movie — is so strong that all over the country they keep lining up...

... An atmosphere of hope develops before a big picture’s release, and even after your friends tell you how bad it is, you can’t quite believe it until you see for yourself. The lines (and the grosses) tell us only that people are going to the movies — not that they’re having a good time. Financially, the industry is healthy, so among the people at the top there seems to be little recognition of what miserable shape movies are in. They think the grosses are proof that people are happy with what they’re getting, just as TV executives think that the programs with the highest ratings are what TV viewers want, rather than what they settle for... If for the last couple of years Hollywood couldn’t seem to do anything right, it isn’t that it was just a stretch of bad luck — it’s the result of recent developments within the industry...

...There are a lot of reasons that movies have been so bad during the last couple of years and probably won’t be any better for the next couple of years. One big reason is that rotten pictures are making money — not necessarily wild amounts (though a few are), but sizable amounts. So if studio heads want nothing more than to make money and grab power, there is no reason for them to make better ones...

There is an even grimmer side to all this: because the studios have discovered how to take the risk out of moviemaking, they don’t want to make any movies that they can’t protect themselves on. Production and advertising costs have gone so high that there is genuine nervous panic about risky projects. If an executive finances what looks like a perfectly safe, stale piece of material and packs it with stars, and the production costs skyrocket way beyond the guarantees, and the picture loses many millions, he won’t be blamed for it — he was playing the game by the same rules as everybody else. If, however, he takes a gamble on a small project that can’t be sold in advance — something that a gifted director really wants to do, with a subtle, not easily summarized theme and no big names in the cast — and it loses just a little money, his neck is on the block. So to the executives a good script is a script that attracts a star, and they will make their deals and set the full machinery of a big production in motion and schedule the picture’s release dates, even though the script problems have never been worked out and everyone (even the director) secretly knows that the film will be a confused mess, an embarrassment...

... It would be very convincing to say that there’s no hope for movies — that audiences have been so corrupted by television and have become so jaded that all they want are noisy thrills and dumb jokes and images that move along in an undemanding way, so they can sit and react at the simplest motor level. And there’s plenty of evidence, such as the success of *****. This was a haunted-house-with-gorilla picture set in outer space. It reached out, grabbed you, and squeezed your stomach; it was more gripping than entertaining, but a lot of people didn’t mind. They thought it was terrific, because at least they’d felt something: they’d been brutalized... Yet there was also a backlash against ***** — many people were angry at how mechanically they’d been worked over."

These are just a few quotes from Pauline Kael's famous essay "Why Are Movies So Bad?" published in The New Yorker magazine on June 23, 1980. The title of the film I replaced with "*****" is Alien (from 1979), and the full essay is available online at http://www.paulrossen.com/paulinekael/whymoviesbad.html

For those of you unfamiliar with Pauline Kael's credentials, the following is from her obituary in the September 4, 2001 New York Times:

"Ms. Kael was probably the most influential film critic of her time. She reviewed movies for The New Yorker from 1968 to 1979, and again, after working briefly in the film industry, from 1980 until 1991...

... At 59, Ms. Kael left The New Yorker for Hollywood. She briefly worked as a production executive for Warren Beatty. After that job ended over what were described as "artistic differences," Paramount Pictures put her under contract as a consultant and scout for several months before she returned to The New Yorker in 1980."

Based upon her experiences working in Hollywood, she wrote "Why Are Movies So Bad?". I have the following questions for readers new to Ms. Kael's essay:

1. How many people assumed that the above quotes were written recently by yet another critic bemoaning the current era of horror cinema (or cinema in general)?

2. How bitterly ironic is it that she was commenting on an era (and a film) that many people today consider "classic" rather than the current era and a recent remake or "torture film?"

If you've read more than a few negative reviews (or comments from fans) of horror movies that have come out during the last decade or so, it's plain to see that if there's nothing new in any aspect of cinema (including horror) - it's critic's "observations."

The next time someone complains that "movies have been so bad during the last couple of years and probably won’t be any better for the next couple of years," or that "there’s no hope for movies — audiences have been so corrupted (or "dumbed down") by television and have become so jaded that all they want are noisy thrills and dumb jokes and images that move along in an undemanding way, so they can sit and react at the simplest level," please respond with, "What else is new?"

Zombie Humor

2009-01-11T15:12:00.003-05:00

Even the walking dead can be funny! How cool would it be to open your morning paper to read the daily zombie comics? Oh, wait. We use the interwebs now...

Does anyone even still get the newspaper? I'd say it's a plus because without the 'Net, I couldn't deliver the undead goods.

Splinter: Movie Review

2009-01-11T13:04:00.003-05:00

Indie horror has a way of sneaking up on you. It often takes time to wade through all the terrible low-budget films in order to find the good ones. Splinter is definitely a good one...great, actually.

From IMDB: "Trapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to work together to survive this primal terror."

The setting of the movie is reminiscent of West Virginia: beautiful trees and deserted mountain roads leading nowhere. The isolation presented by the setting adds to the horror of the film, and the ancientness of nature provides hints as to the origin of the monster.

Monster is probably too strong a word for the creature. Rather than a run-of-the-mill style beast, we get a parasitic fungus with spines like a sea urchin. Maybe that doesn't sound too scary, but the formula works. The fungus feeds on blood, using the body as a host. Just one prick from its spines and you're infected.

Once things get rolling, Polly, Seth, and Dennis lock themselves up in a remote convenience store while the creature tries to find a way inside. Their acting is solid, and the terror is palpable, which makes you wonder if anyone will make it out alive.

The fungus may not have a body of its own, but it's fully capable of making due. Once in the victim, the fungus takes full control of it. The sound of bones snapping while limbs contort in unnatural positions provides some of the movie's most disturbing moments. The fungus even uses dead body parts to form, what could be considered, the actual monster of the story. Quick cuts and shadows make the creature more terrifying. It would have looked silly in the light most likely. But it is executed nicely, slamming bloodied heads into windows, desperately trying to get to the people inside.

Splinter easily bumps The Strangers out of my Top 10 of 2008. I highly recommend it for it's originality, and that it shows how a shoestring budget can still produce a great horror film...The box cutter scene alone is worth it.

Best 10 Horror Films of 2008

2008-12-29T19:29:00.012-05:00

Horror cinema has seen its share of both good and bad in 2008. Fortunately, the good films were very good, and the bad, well...I'll leave those alone. The top 10 list I've compiled is based solely on the films I've actually seen this year. There are several films I haven't gotten around to yet like Repo! The Genetic Opera and Splinter, which might have made the list, but weren't available to watch. I've included trailers for each movie as well, so if you haven't seen them, I highly recommend checking them out.

10. The Strangers

I'm not really into serial killer films, but The Strangers surprised the hell out of me. It has a 70s horror vibe and succeeds in building tension and terror. The scariest thing about this movie is the anonymity of the killers. We never find out who they are or why they kill. And that's truly terrifying. The studio's "based on true events" tag line is just another marketing scheme to get people in theaters. According to what I've read, the producer remembered a girl coming to his house when he was a kid who had the wrong address. That's true, and scary...Isn't it?

9. The Ruins

Based on the novel of the same name, The Ruins is a creepy film that ties into Mayan culture. Yes, it's another "hot college students in danger" story, but it does something unique; it makes plants scary, something The Happening failed to accomplish. That, and it's actually good.

8. The Signal

A great independent film that plays on our fear of technology. People change into psychotic killers after hearing and/or seeing a mysterious signal broadcast through TV, phones, and radio. Love and infidelity is the true story here. The movie is as emotional as it is brutal.

7. Doomsday

This is a fantastic post-apocalyptic movie. Although zombies are nowhere to be seen, there's a fair share of cannibalism. A lethal virus wipes out most of the British population and the infected survivors are walled off from "civilized" society. Mad Max and armor clad knights are dropped in a blender to create pure chaos and one kickass movie. The car chase scene at the end is one of the best and most entertaining I've ever watched, with several laugh out loud moments.

6. Dance of the Dead

The best way to describe this movie would be "teen zomedy." Nothing's more important than prom (according to teen movies anyway), so what do you do when zombies crash your special night? It's simple. Form a group of misfit survivors, add one crazy coach, and kick zombie ass! Dance of the Dead never tries to be more than what it is, which is what makes it so enjoyable to watch. And who knew rock music could soothe the walking dead? I might be partial to this film because one of the characters wears a T-shirt like one of mine. But the movie does have a sharp script full of laughs, thrills, and gory action.

5. Diary of the Dead

Many Romero fans are torn over this film. People either love or hate it. I enjoyed this movie because it allowed Romero to go back to the beginning of his zombie epic and give a new spin on it. The first-person POV film is low budget but contains some great effects and a lot to think about. As with all of Romero's zombie films, Diary of the Dead isn't about shambling flesh eaters; it works as a metaphor to explore how the media handles things like terrorism and natural disasters. When the shit hits the fan, who should you trust? Is the news giving us the facts, or doctored lies? While some of Romero's social commentary is heavy handed at times, Diary of the Dead is a testament to Romero's passion for the genre, and it shows that horror can be just as complex and insightful as "literary" fiction.

4. Trailer Park of Terror

Don't let the title fool you; this movie rocks. Trailer Park of Terror is adapted from the Imperium Comics series. The comic is an anthology in the vein of Tales from the Crypt. Norma, the main character of the film, is the comic's Crypt Keeper of sorts. The movie itself centers around her, providing an intricate and tragic backstory that connects small town mentality with revenge and a deal with the devil, played by country singer, Trace Adkins. Some viewers might be put off by the trailer park stereotypes in the film, but if anything, they add depth to Norma's character and provide for some truly hilarious moments. This movie is sick and twisted with just the right amount of humor.

3. Cloverfield

While Godzilla is the greatest monster of all time, he is a distinctly Japanese creation. J.J. Abrams kept that in mind when he set out to develop an American monster movie. What makes Cloverfield stand out is its well executed viral marketing campaign. The trailer reveals nothing about the monster other than it's big enough and strong enough to toss the Statue of Liberty's head across New York. The trailer has no title for the film either, which unleashed a tidal wave of speculation on the Internet when it was released. People thought the movie was everything from Cthulhu to Voltron (no joke).

While a Cthulhu movie would have been amazing, Cloverfield has a strong Lovecraftian feel. The first-person POV is a little jarring at first, but the movie would have failed without it. It looks and feels real. The characters are believable and evoke a true sense of awe and terror during the creature's rampage. The monster itself has a unique design and looks very otherworldly. I'm not big on sequels, but I hope that we see Cloverfield return in the near future.

2. Midnight Meat Train

Lionsgate really screwed Clive Barker and his fans over by denying his film a theatrical release in favor of The Strangers. Barker's film is far superior to The Strangers in both story and direction. Adapted from the short story, Midnight Meat Train is about a photographer who becomes obsessed with a serial killer. The true reason behind the subway murders is revealed at the end, and is chilling in true Clive Barker fashion. The killings are brutal and visceral.

According to the director, gallons of blood were used in the movie, and it shows. The camera never shies away from the violence and the story is an interesting look at what might be hiding beneath city streets, not to mention that obsession can lead to tragic results. Without a doubt, Barker is back with a vengeance.

1. Let the Right One In

This Swedish film really caught me off guard. I had heard good things about it, and many reviewers have listed it as their top horror film of the year, and for some, the decade. It is definitely the best film of 2008. Let the Right One In is another novel adaptation. I haven't read the book, but the movie is amazing. It's a brilliant coming-of-age story masked as a vampire film.

The story focuses on characterization, allowing the supernatural elements to progress organically. It is harrowing and heartbreaking, but never loses its eeriness or dread. A boy befriends a vampire who helps him break through his insecure shell. He is bullied frequently and viciously by classmates, something many of us can relate to regardless of cultural settings.

Vampire enthusiasts, like me, who are bewildered and disgusted with the Twilight phenomenon will revel in the bloodsucker depiction presented in the film. Fangs are unfortunately absent, which I hope doesn't become a trend. However, those who have always wondered what would happen if a vampire entered a home uninvited finally get an answer...and it isn't pretty.

Vampires are on the verge of dethroning zombies as the next trend in horror, and if Let the Right One In is any indication of what's to come, then I'm ready for more. This dark fable delivers on all levels, and that is why it is my #1 horror film of 2008.

Twilight Mania!

2008-11-26T12:48:00.001-05:00

Ahhh...The Soup just makes everything better :)

PG Porn: Nailing Your Wife

2008-11-08T14:25:00.003-05:00

I love James Gunn (writer/director of Slither) and Nathan Fillion (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). Together, they make magic happen! Who needs the sex when you've got the storyline?!

No candy for you! The stupidity continues...

2008-11-02T14:10:00.001-05:00

Read my story online for free!

2008-10-26T12:55:00.002-04:00

My first published story, "Retconned," is now online! Just go to Trillium Literary Journal and start reading. And don't forget to check out my brief bio and pic at the end of the issue. It's great for a few laughs. I actually made the mistake of thinking the story was going to be in the Fall issue. I was wrong of course. It's included in the Summer issue. Luckily, I don't think the Summer issue has been up for too long. I feel silly enough for thinking otherwise, but then again, it's been a crazy semester.

I hope you enjoy the story! When you've had a chance to read it, feel free to come back here and post your comments.

Speechless

2008-10-23T12:57:00.000-04:00

Just try to hold back tears when you watch this performance.

SNL: Natalie Raps

2008-10-17T22:42:00.002-04:00

The Country's First University Comic Book Archive!

2008-10-08T20:22:00.002-04:00

This is fantastic news for comic fans and supporters. Dark Horse produces some of the industry's best and most diverse comics. DC isn't doing it, and Marvel certainly isn't. This move is a brilliant way to get high quality material in the hands of the public, not to mention the preservation of the company's collected works...I just wish I could be there for the event.

"Portland State University alumni Mike Richardson, founder and president of Dark Horse Comics, Inc., and Neil Hankerson, executive vice president, have donated copies of all publications generated by Dark Horse over the years to Portland State, and will continue to provide copies of all future items produced by the company. This generous gift will result in a complete collection of the Dark Horse corpus to be preserved in the Portland State University Library Special Collections."

Judgement Day - "Out of the Abyss"

2008-09-20T20:02:00.004-04:00

These guys are fantastic! They play "String Metal" (yeah, it's new to me too). No vocals. They just use classical string instruments (violin & cello) and drums. And the result is hardcore magic. Check out this video full of zombie goodness:

Liked it? Go to their MySpace page for more info and more music!

Batman: The Caped Pottymouth

2008-09-20T12:10:00.001-04:00

Good Trailer, Bad Trailer

2008-09-15T19:43:00.001-04:00

Good...

Bad...(really bad)

Midnight Meat Train Online!

2008-09-15T18:54:00.002-04:00

The last time I posted about the movie, Lionsgate had decided that instead of nationwide release of Clive Barker's Midnight Meat Train, it would go straight to DVD with only a handful of screenings at small theaters. Barker fans (including myself) have been anxiously waiting to see the movie since he's hard at work to get all of his Books of Blood short stories adapted into films. I was devastated at the thought of waiting for the DVD for what looks to be a fantastic horror movie.

But now Barker fans can rejoice because FEARnet has announced that the movie will be available on their website starting October 1st! That's right, we can all watch Midnight Meat Train for FREE online. And to make it even better, Barker himself will be hosting the premiere!

If you're a horror fan, show your support for Barker by watching Midnight Meat Train! The train arrives in 16 days...

Trick 'r Treat

2008-09-13T11:25:00.002-04:00

Both good news and bad news about this movie, which looks pretty interesting. Here's the synopsis, courtesy of Warner Bros.:

"It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten. Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick. Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem... the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety-human and otherwise-try to survive the scariest night of the year."

Looks creepy, doesn't it? Unfortunately, Hollywood once again has no clue what they're doing. Apparently this film was due for release LAST year, but WB kept bumping it for some reason. Fans have been anxiously waiting for Trick 'r Treat to hit theaters ever since. But just when it looked as if that the movie would see national release this year, WB dropped the ball again. The studio now plans to do a direct-to-DVD release. Huh? It seems WB can't figure out how to market the Halloween anthology film...I may not be a studio executive, but oh, I don't know...maybe release it on HALLOWEEN?! They plan to screen the movie in October, but only in select theaters (in other words, just a handful of locations).

Just yesterday, some of my students were complaining about the lack of good horror movies being released lately. Hollywood is inundating moviegoers with remakes like Halloween, Friday the 13th, Hellraiser (at least Clive Barker is handling the screenplay), Nightmare on Elm Street, and many more to come. Where does that leave original horror movies and their filmmakers?

While the umpteenth sequel for torture-porn, otherwise known as Saw, slashes its way back into theaters yet AGAIN this Halloween, unique and intelligent movies like Barker's Midnight Meat Train and Trick 'r Treat continue to get the finger from producers who have no idea who their audience is or how to market to them.

Am I the only horror enthusiast getting sick of this trend? Or am I wrong about this? I truly hope that people do not want to see a Saw sequel every year, and that sexist and homophobic garbage like Cabin Fever and Hostel do not become the norm for horror.

Repo! The Genetic Opera

2008-09-06T11:24:00.004-04:00

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival is once again in full swing as it gears up for it's 2008 releases. The TADFF is a goldmine for genre fans, featuring new films for just about every taste. While last year's entries were less than stellar, this year's offerings look to be the most exciting since the festival began two years ago...and the most eclectic. From animated angels to trailer park zombies to Japanese splatterpunk, the festival seems to have all their bases covered this year. Of particular interest, is Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Featuring Buffy veteran, Anthony Head, Sarah Brightman, Paul Sorvino, and even Paris Hilton (let's hope her character meets a swift demise), Repo! will easily be the most successful of the films. The "industrial punk cabaret" (as the creators call it) takes place in a dark, futuristic world populated by beautifully grotesque characters and excellent rock-musical performances. Since the movie was produced by the makers of Saw, expect lots of bloodletting as well.

Sample music downloads are available on the movie's official site. The soundtrack will be available on Sept. 30th, and according to the site, the film will be in theaters on Nov. 7th!

What the...?

2008-09-02T23:24:00.003-04:00

From Evil Dead the Musical! This song is short but absolutely brilliant!

The big announcement!

2008-09-01T21:25:00.005-04:00

Since I'm busy with teaching again, my blogging time will undoubtedly suffer for it. But I'm determined to keep it up as best as I possibly can. So don't worry! You'll continue to get the same KosZom goodness you crave, just not as often.

Another reason for fewer posts is because (the big announcement!) I'll also be blogging for an awesome comic book site called Pink Kryptonite! The site provides a variety of comic-related reviews, news, commentary, and more. Pink Kryptonite's audience is mostly the gay fan base, but don't let that stop you from checking it out. There's something there for everyone! I'm thrilled with the opportunity to report on one of the things I love most, and I owe a great deal of thanks to the wonderful people who run the site for inviting me to join their team.

The site editor will be introducing me (as Dr. Lexicon) within the week. It should come as no surprise that I'll be the site's resident horror guy. My contributions will include reviews, spotlights, and commentary on various horror titles and graphic novels as well as traditional superhero books. I'm also hoping to land an interview or two with creators.

So if you're curious about the latest horror offerings from the industry, want to read up on comics in general, or just want to say hi, go check us out!

Weirdness for the Day

2008-08-27T19:25:00.001-04:00

I don't know what's going on in this video, but it's creepy...and kinda cool.

Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer

2008-08-19T10:08:00.002-04:00

To be honest, I've never read a novel by Meltzer. He tends to write courtroom stories (not a fan), but I'm very familiar with his comic book work on titles like Justice League of America. It seems his passion for superheroes is the focus of his new novel, Book of Lies. The trailer below (how funny we have book trailers now) is one of the best I've seen, done in documentary style with several guest appearances, including Joss Whedon of Buffy fame and Y: The Last Man creator, Brian K. Vaughan.

I have to admit, I'm intrigued. I love stories that challenge what we think we know about the Bible, and Meltzer is connecting the "first murder" with the creator of Superman. I might give this one a read.

Another aspect to the marketing strategy I find interesting is that a companion soundtrack is also being sold to coincide with the book's release. It's a great example of the kinds of pop culture cross-pollination that continue to grow (comics/movies, music/comics, etc.).

You can read more about the novel and Meltzer here.

Last of the Living

2008-08-18T15:01:00.002-04:00

Zombie goodness from New Zealand! Shaun of the Living Dead set the bar for zomcom, but this movie looks like a blast. New Zealand's been cranking out some fun horror films these days. I can't wait until this comes out on DVD.

Bigfoot "remains" a hoax

2008-08-17T10:07:00.004-04:00

Another case of people trying to make a profit. I'll be sure to use this in my English 102 class next semester since the theme is skepticism...The key term I try to get my students to understand is "gullibility virus."

Bigfoot fails DNA test Fri Aug 15, 6:47 PM ET

Bigfoot remains as elusive as ever.

Results from tests on genetic material from alleged remains of one of the mythical half-ape and half-human creatures, made public at a news conference on Friday held after the claimed discovery swept the Internet, failed to prove its existence.

Its spread was fueled by a photograph of a hairy heap, bearing a close resemblance to a shaggy full-body gorilla costume, stuffed into a container resembling a refrigerator.

One of the two samples of DNA said to prove the existence of the Bigfoot came from a human and the other was 96 percent from an opossum, according to Curt Nelson, a scientist at the University of Minnesota who performed the DNA analysis.

Bigfoot creatures are said to live in the forests of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. An opossum is a marsupial about the size of a house cat.

Results of the DNA tests were revealed in an e-mail from Nelson and distributed at the Palo Alto, California, news conference held by Tom Biscardi, host of a weekly online radio show about the Bigfoot.

Also present were Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, the two who say they discovered the Bigfoot corpse while hiking in the woods of northern Georgia. They also are co-owners of a company that offers Bigfoot merchandise.

Despite the dubious photo and the commercial interests of the alleged discoverers, the Bigfoot claim drew interest from Australia to Europe and even The New York Times.

Biscardi said the DNA samples may not have been taken correctly and may have been contaminated, and that he would proceed with an autopsy of the alleged Bigfoot remains, currently in a freezer at an undisclosed location.

And the original story:

Proof or Hoax? Bigfoot Said Found in Georgia By Benjamin Radford, LiveScience's Bad Science Columnist

posted: 13 August 2008 03:20 pm ET

Two Georgia men claim to have found in the northern woods of that state something that has been often reported but never proven to exist: a Bigfoot.

They say they have a body, photos of the body, and DNA evidence — some or all of which will be revealed this Friday, Aug. 15, at a press conference in Palo Alto, Calif.

If the group does have a Bigfoot carcass (and if they actually show the body, instead merely displaying photographs of a supposed body), then perhaps scientists will take note. Still, it's not clear how, exactly, the group will prove that what they have is a Bigfoot. Because there is no comparison specimen, there is no DNA analysis that can definitively identify Bigfoot tissue.

Readers may recall the much-hyped press conference held on May 30, where a man claimed he would provide "definitive proof" of alien visitation. His "proof" turned out to be a short fuzzy video clip of what he said was an alien head outside his window trying to ogle his teen daughters. Needless to say, top scientists were not awestruck by his evidence.

History repeats?

This is not the first time a Bigfoot body has been claimed to have been found. A man named Tom Biscardi, founder of something called the Great American Bigfoot Research Organization, once claimed he had captured a Bigfoot. On Aug. 19, 2005, Biscardi appeared on the radio show "Coast to Coast with George Noory." Biscardi claimed his group had captured a Bigfoot a week earlier, a male beast that weighed over 400 pounds and stood 8-feet tall. He said he would be presenting photos of it several days later. It turned out to be a hoax.

Interestingly, Biscardi is also involved in the new Bigfoot body discovery.

Speaking on behalf of the Georgia men this week, Biscardi said, "Extensive scientific studies will be done on the body by a team of scientists including a molecular biologist, an anthropologist, a paleontologist and other scientists over the next few months at an undisclosed location" under armed guard.

If it all sounds very cloak-and-dagger, it is. Unnamed experts? Undisclosed location? Sounds more like "The X-Files" than real science.

Marketing scheme?

In 2005, Biscardi promoted a pay-per-view cable TV show in which he offered viewers the chance to see a Bigfoot captured on live television for only $59.95. That never happened, but Biscardi did recently direct and produce a film called "Bigfoot Lives."

Surely the publicity from this press conference might boost his film's sales...

Bigfoot researcher Loren Coleman, while stopping short of authenticating the claims, wrote on the Web site Cryptomundo.com, "I feel, in all honesty, this, indeed, may be the real deal, and I say this carefully after reviewing information that has been shared privately with me."

So has a Bigfoot finally been found, after all these years? Or is this just the latest hoax to embarrass Bigfoot believers and bring further ridicule to a field sorely in need of science?

Apparently we will see.

Cthulhu - the movie?

2008-08-13T22:37:00.005-04:00

Synopsis:

"When young history professor Russ is called upon by his sister to execute their late mother’s estate, he is reunited with his boyhood chum and with his father, the charismatic leader of a New Age cult. While exploring his memories, Russ wanders into a warehouse where hundreds of names are listed on the walls. As he sleeps that night, he dreams of a stone cudgel and awakens to find a cudgel in his motel room.

“The Town drunk warns Russ that it is an instrument of sacrifice, and a young liquor store clerk enlists him to help find her brother, who she believes has been taken by the cult. Russ’ aunt, who has been living in an asylum, tells him that his mother left a message hidden in her house.

“Looking for answers in the warehouse, Russ is taken on an unbelievable journey through the small town’s ancient, subterranean origins. When he escapes, he and Mike find the girl’s brother murdered. Russ begins to believe preparations are underway for a mass sacrifice, and engages the attentions of a sexy seductress in order to obtain information. Raped and arrested for murder on the even of the May Festival, the stakes are raised for Russ—maybe higher than the world has ever know.”

Okay, I'm pretty excited to see this. The only drawback for me is the inclusion of Tori Spelling. How that woman is able to weasel her way into things is beyond me, but I'm willing to overlook her. The premise, which draws inspiration from Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," is interesting. And it's great to see a gay spin on the Cthulhu mythos. Lovecraft, aside from being a racist, also thought homosexuality was a psychologically induced perversion. If anything, he was averse to sexuality in general. None of his stories deal with sexuality, focusing on the dread of the unknown and of forces beyond our control instead. Despite his personal views, Lovecraft was a master of the weird tale, influencing writers from King to Barker. Yeah, he'd probably be rolling around in his grave over the gay themes, but he was always open to others expanding and exploring the worlds he created.

According to the director, the first day of the Iraq war served as the catalyst for the film. Also, he and the screenwriter (I'm sure both are straight) wanted to use the story element of the return home to show the difficulties so many of their gay friends had after coming out. Many leave home to live in more urban areas with bigger gay communities, and in the process, carving out new identities. Lovecraft often wrote characters that must fight the destiny dictated by their heritage. I'd say this new take on his work is perfect for the new millennium. For a while now, I've been wondering when we'd get a big Lovecraft adaptation. The themes in his writing are more relevant now than ever. While this movie is a small, indie production, it's great to see more filmmakers creating serious, gay-themed horror without falling back on the usual stereotypes.

Official Movie Site

It's a great time to be a Clive Barker fan.

2008-08-09T12:32:00.004-04:00

Using his own production companies and Lionsgate, Barker is moving at break-neck speed to adapt his early short stories from The Books of Blood. The first movie (of 15!) was Midnight Meat Train, which, for some unknown reason, did not see a national theatrical release by Lionsgate. It's a shame because from what I've read and seen of it, the movie looks incredible. Oh well...DVD it is.

The next film, Book of Blood, is near the end of production, and is directed by John Harrison of the Dune TV miniseries. The screenplay is based on Barker's stories, "Book of Blood" and "On Jerusalem Street."

Filming began in Scotland in December 2007 and the movie is scheduled for release in 2009. It stars Jonas Armstrong, Sophie Ward, Paul Blair, along with Barker film alums Doug Bradley (Hellraiser’s Pinhead) and Simon Bamford (Hellraiser’s Butterball Cenobite). Barker is also one of the producers for the film.

Here's the synopsis:
"Paranormal researcher Mary Florescu’s investigations lead her to Simon McNeal, a college student who appears to be channelling messages from the dead. As their erotic relationship develops the line between the worlds of the living and the dead become blurred and finally collapse in a stunning and astonishing climax."

In the current issue of Rue Morgue, Barker talks about how the story has parallels with Hellraiser and that when he wrote the story in the 80s, he was inspired by Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man. But Barker wanted to take the idea further by exploring what Bradbury didn't: sexuality. He discusses how the idea of a sexual relationship between an older woman and a younger man was still taboo at the time. The story is another great example of Barker's subversive style.

What do you think of the poster? I think it's one of coolest I've seen in a while. Ominous, yet erotically charged at the same time.

Publishing news!

2008-08-08T23:18:00.003-04:00

After succeeding in getting two of my poems published (in The Bluestone Review and an upcoming anthology called In Other Words), I was determined to get some of my fiction out there...Well, that time time is now! My short story, "Retconned," will soon appear in Trillium Literary Journal, an online, peer reviewed publication. The editors and reviewers are a mixture of writing professionals and academics. Trillium is relatively new, having published it's first edition in 2007. Their site is really cool. When you open an issue, it simulates turning pages and even plays music in the background. All previous issues can be accessed on the site.

My former professor recommended that I submit one of the stories from my thesis to the editor. I'd never heard of the journal, but if you knew my professor, you'd do what he says because he's no bullshitter. I thought it wouldn't hurt to try, especially after having another story recently rejected by an anthology that I really wanted to be in.

After waiting almost two months for a response, I got an email from the editor yesterday telling me that my story had been accepted for the next issue! I don't know if I've ever been that excited. Getting my poetry published was awesome, but there's something about getting your fiction published that's like the icing on the cake. The fact that I won't be able to hold a printed journal in my hands is a little disappointing, but there's nothing wrong with online publishing. In many ways, it's the future of literary journals. All three of my creative writing professors have said publishing work in online magazines is just as valid as printed journals. It's more for me to add to the resume, or I guess now I'll need to do a vita, especially since the editor offered me a spot as a reviewer for the journal! Yeah. How cool is that?! Not only am I getting my story published, but I'm also going to get to read and review future submissions to the journal. I won't get paid for the work, but I'll be getting some great professional experience and hopefully making some contacts in the writing community.

I'm not sure when the next issue will be online, but I'll post again as soon as I know more. Today I had to email the editor a bio and a photo. Both are cheesy, but that kind of stuff usually is. I'm just overwhelmed right now because so many good things have happened for me over the past couple of weeks. Karma's funny that way. I'm hoping this will open more doors for me with future projects because I've got more crazy ideas and plans cooking, like a script for a graphic novel based on my thesis and I'm itching to try my hand at screenwriting...

Grant Morrison speaks!

2008-08-07T23:10:00.005-04:00

If you're not a comics fan, you may not be interested in this interview, so it's okay for you to skip it. But if you like comics even a little, listen to Grant! He's writing some big stuff write now. Plus, in the beginning of the interview, he talks about the growing relationship between music and comics as well as how comics are not the same as movies. Actually, he believes musicians understand comics more than Hollywood writers could ever hope to...The guy's got the coolest accent ever!

"Grant Morrison is a man who needs no introduction to long time and new comic fans alike. He’s the man behind DC’s summer event, “Final Crisis,” is turning heads amongst Batman fans with “Batman R.I.P” and has been blowing away readers with “All Star Superman.” On his visit to the CBR Yacht during Comic-Con International in San Diego, Morrison spoke with CBR Executive Producer Jonah Weiland on a variety of subjects, including “Final Crisis,” Superman, making his own music and why more musicians coming in to the comics field is healthy for the industry."

I think I worked with this guy.

2008-07-30T16:08:00.001-04:00

This is pretty close to how some people teach English.

Hardly Working: Cool English Teacher

Stephen King, Marvel, and "N"

2008-07-25T09:26:00.004-04:00

From Newsarama...

Beginning Monday, July 28, mobile phone users and web surfers can enjoy Stephen King’s latest work in a groundbreaking series of 25 original video episodes. The series of video episodes was created through a unique partnership between Scribner and Simon & Schuster Digital, Marvel Entertainment, and CBS Mobile and is believed to be the first comic-style book adaptation specifically developed and produced for viewing on today’s most popular small screen platforms. Starting today, viewers can go to www.NisHere.com or www.simonsays.com to see a preview of the episodes, which will also be unveiled at Comic-Con International in San Diego today at a panel event featuring the creators of this pioneering venture.

The series will also be available for purchase at major online digital content retailers.

The episodes are based on King’s original and previously unpublished story “N.,” the tale of a psychiatrist who becomes the victim of the same mysterious and deadly obsession as his patient, and which will be included in his forthcoming collection of short stories Just After Sunset (Scribner, November 11, 2008) and published as a comic book miniseries by Marvel, launching in 2009. Featuring sophisticated production values, the episodes were drawn by award-winning comic-book artist Alex Maleev, whose work has appeared on NBC’s “Heroes,” and colored by famed comic-book colorist José Villarrubia, best known for his collaborations with Alan Moore. They were adapted by Marc Guggenheim, co-creator of the ABC-TV series “Eli Stone” with creative oversight from Stephen King. The episodes are presented in a highly designed “pan and scan” format, complete with comic book–style graphics, an original score, sound effects, and a full cast of voiceovers that includes Emmy and Golden Globe award nominee actor Ben Shenkman.

Stephen King commented: "I'm always interested in new delivery systems for stories and always curious about how those systems work with the old storytelling verities. This one, it seems to me, works extraordinarily well."

“‘N.’ combines-cutting edge graphic content with the hot new digital medium for entertainment to showcase Stephen King’s unique talent, and we think consumers will be excited to try this never before attempted way of previewing his upcoming story collection,” said Carolyn Reidy, President and CEO of Simon & Schuster, Inc. “We are grateful to CBS Mobile and Marvel Entertainment for partnering with us to bring this wonderful Stephen King story to mobile customers and online consumers.”

“Stephen King has always been ahead of the curve,” said Susan Moldow, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Scribner. “With ‘N.’ he has once again proven himself to be an innovator of the first order, offering up a classic, chilling, and compelling King story in an entirely new format that can reach on-the-go consumers, and keep them coming back to find out how things unfold. ‘N.’ re-imagines the notion of the first serial, delivering prepublication content to where the new readers are.”

Beginning Monday, July 28, and running through Friday, August 29, the video episodes (each running approximately two minutes), will be released in serial fashion on consecutive weekdays for five weeks, at no additional charge to mobile users, through the largest mobile carriers. As an added bonus for consumers, the episodes will also be available on the web through the CBS Audience Network, capable of reaching 92% of the U.S.-based online audience and consisting of online partners such as TV.com, AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo, Fancast, Joost, Bebo, Netvibes, Sling Media, and Veoh as well as Web sites from CBS's owned television, radio, and affiliated stations, and at www.NisHere.com. Visitors to www.NisHere.com will also be able to embed the player and episodes on blogs and social networking sites, and to preorder the book.

At the same time, paid download customers will be able to purchase blocks of 5 episodes for $0.99 or buy a Season Pass for the entire series for $3.99.

A limited-printing collector’s edition, featuring the book and a DVD of all the video episodes, will be made available when Just After Sunset goes on sale in November.

“The series of ‘N.’ mobile episodes is a groundbreaking moment in visual storytelling, multimedia entertainment, and content development,” said Ruwan Jayatilleke, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development–Acquisitions, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. “The synergy between Marvel, Scribner, Simon & Schuster Digital and CBS in bringing this venture in entertainment to fruition has been phenomenal. It is only fitting that such collaboration occurs under the auspices and creative inspiration of Stephen King and his infectious storytelling.”

“We are excited to be collaborating with partners who share our belief that the mobile device is worthy of content made specifically for it,” said Jeff Sellinger, Executive Vice President, CBS Mobile. "A project of this scope and scale speaks to the strength and value of mobile as an entertainment distribution platform. We look forward to bringing these 25 unique episodes to our video partners and users, and applaud our partners for creating quality made-for-mobile content. We hope that many will follow their lead.”

30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust

2008-07-18T10:31:00.003-04:00

FEARnet has just posted the first webisode for 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust. Produced by the same movie company, this web series takes place after the film. It's really good and shows vampires that are the total opposite of the Twilight variety. If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. These vamps are scary, brutal forces of nature. And when you see one, you sure as hell better run because they aren't going to take you for a ride in their Volvo and romance you in the cafeteria.

This is the second 30 Days of Night web series produced by Ghost House Pictures. The first series, Blood Trails, a prequel to the movie, is still available for viewing on FEARnet.

Twilight fangirls gone wild!

2008-07-17T21:40:00.003-04:00

Before I saw the teaser trailer for the movie, Twilight, I had never even heard of it. I also had no idea it was a book, which was pretty stupid of me considering Hollywood doesn't make anything original anymore. Now some people are proclaiming Stephenie Meyer, the author, as the next J.K. Rowling. She's already made millions on this series of books. Another stay-at-home mom with some writing chops. Entertainment Weekly has a cover story about the film this week, which comes out in December.

I love a good vampire story so I thought I'd try out the book. I'm halfway through it and while it isn't a literary masterpiece by any means, it's an engaging read. It's hard to put down and the characters are interesting. It's nice to have a girl as the main character for a change and the vampire love interest, Edward, is great, but he can be a tad emo. Who am I kidding? They're all teenagers so of course they're emo. The only problem is that I haven't encountered any "bad" words yet, which is grossly out of character for teens. Meyer is Mormon, so I don't know if that has something to do with that or not. It's odd enough that she's writing vampire fiction...BUT the book is good overall and worth a read. I'll probably read the rest of the books in time. And the movie looks fun so I'm sure I'll see it.

Like Harry Potter, Twilight has a rabid fanbase, most of which are female, but it seems more guys are starting to check it out. I think this is why Meyer won't reach Rowling status. Harry Potter appeals to a wide range of fans, both male and female, young and old. Twilight is definitely for teens and older. Now, back to the purpose of this post...When the teaser trailer was released, it received some intense reactions. I found this video that a fan put together. It's hilarious to see this kind of reaction to such a short trailer.

On the flip side, I'm sure some fanboys wet their pants when they first saw the trailer for The Dark Knight. I promise I didn't. Well, maybe I peed just a little.

Dangerous Muse - "Secret"

2008-07-12T11:50:00.002-04:00

These guys have such a great 80s synth sound. This is the first time I've heard this song, but I highly recommend any of their music. They've even done a cover of Ministry's "Everyday is Halloween." And Mike Furey, the lead singer, definitely has a Morrissey thing going on, which is always a good thing. Pay attention near the end because Furey finds a new use for a mic...dirty.

If you like what you hear, get your digital butt on over to their MySpace page for more awesomesauce.

Here's their first video for "The Rejection."

Faceless Aliens Spotted!

2008-07-03T11:09:00.002-04:00

Obviously, these people aren't aliens, but I'm guessing it's some sort of viral marketing for something. That's the only thing I can think of because no one does anything to check them out, like, say...security? It's a cool marketing campaign and totally creepy. I like it!

Read more about it here.

Happy Friday!

2008-06-27T13:59:00.002-04:00

Hilarious!

Bumblebee vs Optimus Prime

Buffy Academic Conference!

2008-06-06T15:07:00.002-04:00

This is awesome! I wonder if any philosophy professors are using Buffy graphic novels in the classroom as well? I love to hear about stuff like this for 3 reasons:
1) It's a shot of progress straight into the clotted veins of academia, which it desperately needs. We need to explore new territory. As one of my professors told me, Whitman's been done. Twain's been done. Now we need the next generation of scholars to show us something fresh, and pop culture is a goldmine of possibilities.
2) Events like this conference validate the academic study of, as Clive Barker calls it, the "fantastique." Buffy is just a small example of what's out there: fantasy, action-adventure, scifi, and horror. The moment I stepped into a graduate classroom, I couldn't stop running my mouth about the importance of horror (A scifi class and no zombies? WTF?), and I even wrote about it and taught it. The same classic concepts are there, just transmitted through a different medium, one that has universal appeal.
3) I'm a geek.

'Buffy' Finds Eternal Life Among U.S. Academics

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) - Aristotle. Nietzsche. Buffy?

The blond heroine of the campy television series ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer,'' as well as other works by creator Joss Whedon, will be the focus of a three-day academic conference beginning Friday at Henderson State University. The show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar won cult fame and critical praise during its seven seasons.

Since it ended, the series has spawned enough academic books on the philosophy surrounding the roles of friendship and feminism to fill a 15-foot-wide (nearly 5-meter-wide) bookshelf at the college in Arkadelphia, said Kevin Durand, an associate professor of philosophy.

''It has staying power,'' Durand said. ''It's like I tell my students in philosophy a lot of times: We're not so much about necessarily finding all the answers as wanting to ask better questions. 'Buffy,' I think, does that. 'Buffy' never really leaves you with nice, pat answers. You have even more questions than when you started.''

Durand said more than 90 academic papers will be discussed at the conference. He expects about 150 people to attend and discuss the vampire slayer and Whedon's other works, including the television series ''Firefly'' and ''Angel.'' Another point of discussion will be a lesser-known part of Whedon's work - his screenplay for the hit animated film ''Toy Story.''

Among the papers: ''Buffy and Feminism,'' ''Buffy and Identity,'' ''Gender Stereotypes and the Image of Domesticity in 'Firefly,''' '''Firefly:' The Illusive Safety of Big Damn Heroes'' and a Durand favorite by a British scholar, ''Hero's Journey, Heroine's Return: Buffy, Eurydice and the Orpheus Myth.''

''That one just sounds cool,'' he said.

Durand, who contributed an academic paper at each of the two previous Buffy conferences, often focuses on how power plays into the ''Buffy'' series. He said much of the heroine's strength came from others and her willingness to work with friends in her fight against creatures of the night.

Pork and Beans

2008-05-27T13:08:00.003-04:00

I've been busy trying to do a new resume and look for jobs. The market is just bad. Teaching isn't panning out right now, so I'm looking into other possibilities like editing. It seems most of those jobs are entry level, which means doing a lot of secretarial work, busting my ass, and being underpaid for a while. But it's the only way to get in to the biz. It also means moving to New York, which isn't going to be cheap...Either way, I need a job and I know there's nothing here for me. My goal is to be working by July.

Okay, enough of the bad! Now for the good. Weezer's new video for "Pork and Beans" is great! It's a viral video tribute to all those crazy vids we've seen dozens of times. Even Chris Crocker makes an appearance. How many can you identify?

First Monday After Graduation

2008-05-05T12:25:00.001-04:00

Sit back. Watch. Enjoy.

Awesome.

If I had a time machine...

2008-04-26T15:46:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since my last post, so I thought I'd remedy that...I think we all agree on what an addictive time killer YouTube is. Today's no exception. Sometimes I get hit by a tidal wave of nostalgia, and YouTube is the place to indulge. I came across this awesome montage of old cartoons set to Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Land of Confusion" by Genesis. It's cool, but the poster titled it as an 80s tribute when some of these toons are not from the 80s (I think he got some of the dates at the end wrong too). Still, I love it and wanted to share.

This last one is just amazing! A true 80s collection, it's got a sampling of some of the best cartoon intros from that decade. Since I was born in '76, I remember almost all of them.

And it wouldn't be complete without this one:

I honestly don't think we'll ever see anything like the cartoons of the 80s again. Complete with iconic theme songs, larger than life heroes and villains, and not to mention totally random and creative as hell, these cartoons helped to shape my childhood and spark my imagination. And now that I look back, maybe they gave me something to believe in, an animated mythology unique to my generation. One of the video comments said, "I tear up when I see this stuff. I want to be a kid again so bad, it hurts." I couldn't agree more.

Dr. Lexicon: Now in Color!!!

2008-04-11T19:44:00.003-04:00

This is me! Well, a comic book version of me anyway. The sister of one of my grad colleagues did character drawings of all of us...It's super villain cool and I love it!

Dr. Lexicon by *aerocat13 on deviant ART
Hmmm...I'd say a good mix of Dr. Doom, Apocalypse, and Thanos; three of my favorite Marvel villains.

Zombie coolness from my students

2008-04-05T14:50:00.005-04:00

I'm having my English 102 students do group blogs on various legends. It's the first time I've assigned this kind of project, so I see it as an experiment. So far, so good! Overall, I'm pretty pleased with their work. One of the groups is researching zombies, which makes this horror geek very happy. They've come up with some interesting and fun stuff. I thought I'd share a couple videos...

Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space

My student played this in 8th grade. I've never heard of it, but it's fantastic! And it sounds extremely difficult for middle school level band.

Zombies in Plain English

This one speaks for itself...Well done and funny.

Yeah, I think I'll be using this project again next year.

Excerpt from Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow

2008-04-02T21:35:00.002-04:00

Toby Barlow's Sharp Teeth is a slick synthesis of contemporary horror and epic poetry...plus it's about werewolves! For an in depth review of the book, click here. To buy the book (and show support for horror poetry!), click here.

Now for the awesome. Below is a very cool animated video clip with Barlow reading a passage from the book:

Muse from HARRP: Live at Wembley 2007

2008-04-01T22:40:00.004-04:00

"Time Is Running Out"

Clive Barker on The Late Late Show

2008-03-29T15:54:00.001-04:00

I always wondered about those pants...now I know the terrifying truth!

Night & Fog

2008-03-29T14:57:00.004-04:00

From Fangoria:

March 28: Creators talk monster comic NIGHT & FOG

Comics writers Alex Leung and Matthew Bradford dropped Fango a line about NIGHT & FOG, the creature-riddled debut title from Santa Monica-based creative lab Studio 407. The six-issue miniseries, which hits shelves starting in late May, spends a night on an island full of military-designed, bloodthirsty humanoids turning on their creators, and the soldiers sent to battle them.

Given Leung's love of ALIENS and Bradford's adoration of 70s horror comics such EERIE and CREEPY, readers can expect a tale brimming with weird, cutting-edge technology up against a raw, otherworldly power. A serum intended to create supersoldiers sets everything in motion; once the substance takes hold, its recipient can actually adapt to any potential health hazards he or she may face. And that means bloody bad news for those battling these grunts gone wild. Though the creators are keeping a lid on specific plot points, they promise that creature fans will not be disappointed.

"Part of the inspiration for the book was that Matt and I wanted to tip our hats to the classic, Gothic kind of monster books like DRACULA, THE INVISIBLE MAN, JEKYLL AND HYDE and FRANKENSTEIN," Leung tells Fango. Bradford adds, "We wanted to do something more modern, though I love those classics, from Hammer movies back to the early films. We really aimed to do a sort of sci-fi take on them, and present a realistic version, well, 'realistic' within the realm of the genre, at least. We wanted to come up with an excuse for this serum that [the characters] have been working on to transform men into monsters."

"There are basically four protocols to this serum," Leung continues. "And each protocol [helps soldiers] adapt to any situation. So through the course of the story, every time the heroes figure a way to kill these soldiers, they adapt. So it's not just a vampire story, and it's not just a werewolf story."

The action is dramatized via CREEPY comics-inspired artwork by Argentine artist Roberto Castro, who has previously contributed to titles from EC and Marvel. "When [Castro] read the story, he loved it," Leung says. "And you can tell from the quality of the work that it's definitely become a labor of love," Bradford finishes, in true co-creator form. Colorist JM Ringuet will also provide an "evocative sense of dread and excitement," according to the co-creators, which they describe as "way beyond what we were expecting. I didn't think he'd actually get the color palette he got, but he did," Leung says.

With words like "chromosome," "adaptability" and "preternatural" coming up throughout the discussion of NIGHT & FOG, things seem to be gelling into a story as smart and fun as it is visceral. For a 10-page preview, click here.

Michael Alan Nelson Interview

2008-03-24T21:55:00.003-04:00

Fall of Cthulhu, by BOOM! Studios, is one of the best comics being published. I came late into the series with issue 6, but jumping on wasn't confusing at all. Anyone should pick this up, whether you're a Lovecraft fan or not. I recently purchased the first trade, The Fugue, and I'm 2 chapters in. Hopefully, once I'm done I can write a review...Meanwhile, I highly recommend this fantastic interview with the book's writer. Nelson has a wild imagination, and while he's certainly influenced by Lovecraft's work, the book is his own creation.

And if I haven't convinced you yet, check out Nelson's blog where you can read his first novel, DINGO...for FREE! It doesn't get any better than that.

This is my body. This is my blood.

2008-03-24T11:37:00.002-04:00

It's no secret; I love zombies. They're one of the best monsters of fiction and film. We never get tired of them either. Zombie stories are full of metaphors about society, disease, conformity, taboos, and politics. But one of the things we don't stop to consider is the "zombie" aspect of Christianity. There's the risen Jesus: a zombie. And we can extend the zombie metaphor to Christ's followers. Now, not all Christians fit the zombie mentality, but a vast majority do. Conformity is the foundation of organized religion. Those that venture outside the established rules and norms are labeled as "sinners" or "infidels" for questioning what they've been spoon fed all their lives. There's room in the world for all beliefs and people are entitled to that. But when I look at this "Zombie Last Supper" painting, I'm reminded of the conformist (herd) mentality, of the group acting as one because they operate with a sort of hive mind. The disciples are ripping their savior apart and devouring him. The very concept of communion is cannibalism whether Christians want to accept it or not. The belief that by consuming the flesh of another you take on their strength and power is ancient. Watch the movie Ravenous for a disturbing interpretation. In this painting, we're seeing a literal representation of Christian doctrine filtered through the lens of our own pop cultural zombie obsession. It's pretty damn cool.

Dinosaurs are cool!

2008-03-23T22:47:00.004-04:00

When I was a kid, I loved dinosaurs. I had dinosaur books, stickers, cards, toys, and coloring books. Now we've got the Discovery Channel, which can satiate the hunger of the most ravenous of dino enthusiasts...

Tonight I watched a show that dealt with the possibility of recreating dinosaurs. Regardless of how cool Jurassic Park was, we all dismissed it as pure science fiction. Dino DNA just isn't viable. Well, we were wrong. Now paleontologists and geneticists say that within 15 years, they will be able to retro-engineer dinos from modern birds because of their genetic link. Apparently, some animals possess dino genes that turn off at certain stages of development. Scientists are already experimenting with turning them on. One researcher was able to catalyze the growth of archaeopteryx-like teeth in bird embryos!

The wildest part of all this is that within 50 years (according to geneticists) they will be able to engineer other, more traditional dinos like T-Rex! We could actually see a T-Rex or a raptor within our lifetimes...I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the possibility. But as awesome as that is, I can't help but think of the moral of Jurassic Park. I want to see it. I really do. But what do we do with one of the planet's biggest, deadliest predators? It's something to think about.

On a lighter note, check out this video. Animatronics have come a long way! These dinos look so real, and this show would be amazing to see. I envy these kids. They get to see dinosaurs in ways I never dreamed possible.

Dig this!

2008-03-20T17:12:00.002-04:00

One of my thesis committee professors compared my fiction to the work of Harry Crews. I've never read anything by Crews, but he's odd to say the least...Here's a clip.

And trust me...I promise I don't look anything like this dude!

Veni, Vidi, Vice!

2008-03-19T21:52:00.004-04:00

I survived my thesis defense! The experience managed to be both funny and engaging. The conversation shifted from X-Men, to the homoeroticism in comics, to dual identities, to Real Dolls (you'd have to read the short stories to understand), to gay pride parades in Amsterdam. I've gone through hell to make this project a reality, and after today, I feel like I accomplished something monumental. Honestly, I have had some of the best professors a grad student could ask for, and they've taught me a lot. I've come out of the experience a stronger fiction writer and--at last--an academic.

Bloody Mary

2008-03-19T14:00:00.007-04:00

Since this is my first official blog post, I thought I'd post what might just be one of the worst short films I've ever seen. How did I come across this masterpiece? I'm currently teaching English 102 and we've just started examining urban legends. Bloody Mary has a long, enigmatic history, and the legend is still popular today. So I was searching the Internet for course material and this popped up...On the plus side though, it's so bad, it's hilarious.

Bloody Mary